Abstract

Kudi, T. M, Bolaji, M, Akinola M. O and Nasa�??I D. H

The study focuses on the analysis of socio-economic factors that influence the adoption of improved maize varieties among farmers. The specific objectives are to identify the available new maize varieties in the study area, sources of information on new maize varieties, determine the extent to which the farmers are aware of the improved maize varieties, the influence of socio-economic characteristics of the farmers on adoption of improved maize varieties and to identify the problems confronting farmers’ adoption of new maize varieties. Data was obtained from fifty (50) maize farmers through the use of structured questionnaires. The data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics and regression analysis. It was found that more than half of the respondents (sixty percent) were aware of the improved maize varieties and have been using them, while fifty four percent of the respondents got their information from extension agents. All the respondents (100%) were aware of the improved maize varieties. The results of the regression analysis showed that household size, level of education, contact with extension agents, and access to credit and yield of the improved maize varieties were the factors that influence the adoption of improved maize varieties. The major constraints identified were high cost of fertilizer and cost of labour, lack of capital, lack of contact with extension agents and lack of market for produce. It is recommended that cost of fertilizer should be subsidized, efforts should be made to make credit accessible to farmers, and there should be increased number of extension agents who would help introduce new maize varieties to farmers and an effective input supply system that would sustain the expansion of maize output by farmers in the study area should be put in place.